atlantabhopali
Registered Users (C)
Parent's Visit Visa Approved - Details
Hi All,
My parents' visit visa was approved on Oct 22nd. We were a little apprehensive as my father's visa application was rejected twice in 2001. But by grace of God, both of them got a 5 yr visa this time.
For the benefit of other applicants, I am including the prep outline below.
Documents Sent to Consulate Before the Interview
Scheduled interview online at http://www.visa-services.com/tourist-B1B2.html. It is best to send as many docs as possible along with the application. This reduces the chances of follow-up questions during the interview and hence any unexpected request. We sent following docs:
- Visa Schedule Confirmation: 2 copies
- 1 Demand Draft for Rs. 10120 (one draft for both)
- 2 Demand Drafts for Rs. 2300 each
- 2 completed DS-156 forms (my father is 45+ and hence did not require DS-157)
- 2 Notarized Affidavits from me, addressed to consulate, stating that i wish for them to visit me here and I would pay for their expenses
- 2 Form I-134's from me, notarized
- Letter from my employer, with current date, salary, title, employed since date
- 2 recent pay stubs
- 2 most recent bank statements (from investment bank showing $$ available for paying their expenses). Should have bank account open date, change in $ value since last month/year. If ur statement does not has this info, get a letter from the bank.
- Proof of my status (h1 visa copy, I-94 copy, 140 approval copy, 485/EAD/AP/FP receipt, EAD/AP approval, copy of EAD card, copy of driver's license).
- My ORIGINAL birth certificate (yes, they need the original - if you dont want to send the original, ask ur parents to get a 'duplicate' copy from ur local municipal office)
- Copy of my passport
Documents carried along with on Visa interview day
It is important to categorize all docs for ease and speed to retrieve them during the interview. All docs were categorized by my mother in financial/status/reasons to come back groups. Each group was held together by paper clips. Here is the list of docs:
- Notarized affidavits from my parents, stating they would come back as (a) their parents depend on them (b) have property in india and (c) have business in india
- Pictures with my grandparents and other relatives, to prove family ties in india
- Medical certificate from family doctor, stating that my grandparents depend on my parents for medical help
- Parent's Property papers
- Parent's Business Tax returns, news articles on their business
- A formal letter of invitation from me
- Copy of all docs sent to consulate earlier
- Copy of my 12 months pay stubs
- Copy of my tax returns for 2001/2002
- Copy of my sister's passport and her original birth certificate (my sister also lives in US)
- Copy of my wife's and my sister's husband's passport
Interview day
- Made sure that my parent's understood each and every doc sent by me (485/140/ead/ap/fin support etc) and categorized them for ease of retrieval. The consulate officers are impatient. If the interviewee cannot retrieve a doc quickly, it can lead to rejection.
- Prepared answers for possible questions. U can find most of the questions on this website: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/visitor/interview.html
- Dress formal
Getting the visa is nonetheless a luck factor. However, as thomas jefferson once said "i am a strong believer of luck, and the harder i work, the luckier i get".. So best to over prepare than under prepare.
Goodluck!
-ab
Hi All,
My parents' visit visa was approved on Oct 22nd. We were a little apprehensive as my father's visa application was rejected twice in 2001. But by grace of God, both of them got a 5 yr visa this time.
For the benefit of other applicants, I am including the prep outline below.
Documents Sent to Consulate Before the Interview
Scheduled interview online at http://www.visa-services.com/tourist-B1B2.html. It is best to send as many docs as possible along with the application. This reduces the chances of follow-up questions during the interview and hence any unexpected request. We sent following docs:
- Visa Schedule Confirmation: 2 copies
- 1 Demand Draft for Rs. 10120 (one draft for both)
- 2 Demand Drafts for Rs. 2300 each
- 2 completed DS-156 forms (my father is 45+ and hence did not require DS-157)
- 2 Notarized Affidavits from me, addressed to consulate, stating that i wish for them to visit me here and I would pay for their expenses
- 2 Form I-134's from me, notarized
- Letter from my employer, with current date, salary, title, employed since date
- 2 recent pay stubs
- 2 most recent bank statements (from investment bank showing $$ available for paying their expenses). Should have bank account open date, change in $ value since last month/year. If ur statement does not has this info, get a letter from the bank.
- Proof of my status (h1 visa copy, I-94 copy, 140 approval copy, 485/EAD/AP/FP receipt, EAD/AP approval, copy of EAD card, copy of driver's license).
- My ORIGINAL birth certificate (yes, they need the original - if you dont want to send the original, ask ur parents to get a 'duplicate' copy from ur local municipal office)
- Copy of my passport
Documents carried along with on Visa interview day
It is important to categorize all docs for ease and speed to retrieve them during the interview. All docs were categorized by my mother in financial/status/reasons to come back groups. Each group was held together by paper clips. Here is the list of docs:
- Notarized affidavits from my parents, stating they would come back as (a) their parents depend on them (b) have property in india and (c) have business in india
- Pictures with my grandparents and other relatives, to prove family ties in india
- Medical certificate from family doctor, stating that my grandparents depend on my parents for medical help
- Parent's Property papers
- Parent's Business Tax returns, news articles on their business
- A formal letter of invitation from me
- Copy of all docs sent to consulate earlier
- Copy of my 12 months pay stubs
- Copy of my tax returns for 2001/2002
- Copy of my sister's passport and her original birth certificate (my sister also lives in US)
- Copy of my wife's and my sister's husband's passport
Interview day
- Made sure that my parent's understood each and every doc sent by me (485/140/ead/ap/fin support etc) and categorized them for ease of retrieval. The consulate officers are impatient. If the interviewee cannot retrieve a doc quickly, it can lead to rejection.
- Prepared answers for possible questions. U can find most of the questions on this website: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/visitor/interview.html
- Dress formal
Getting the visa is nonetheless a luck factor. However, as thomas jefferson once said "i am a strong believer of luck, and the harder i work, the luckier i get".. So best to over prepare than under prepare.
Goodluck!
-ab
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